Hidden Conditions Met!
Passive Skill [Adventurous Nudist] can be upgraded to [Exhibitionist]! Upgrade skill now?
I instantly dismiss the prompt as I quickly grab a couple of Akiko’s tails to make a little fluffy wall of modesty between myself and Jun Li, even going so far as to turn bodily into Akiko to try and recover the situation as much as possible. It sadly backfires spectacularly, as the smoldering uncovered eye of Jun Li drinks in the new sight of both me and my kitsune lap chair smush together violently, our breasts pancaking against each other which makes me let out a small moan on accident. The spike of lust dripping from me at being seen by someone who isn’t Akiko or Ios, my growingly overstimulated new body, and just plain old attraction to the black furred fox woman all coalescing into that pitiful and shameful display.
Its all I can do to just lean my head against the crook of Akiko’s neck and whimper a bit, feeling like I just jumped several steps ahead with Jun Li on accident. Steps that I was looking forward to taking with her, damn it!! I feel more of Akiko’s tails come up to shield me further, her nimble fingers stroking softly against my hair as she says, “Jun Li! I apologize for not hearing your arrival sooner. Amelia and I were… indisposed and lost in our attentions to each other. I am eager to hear your report, my dear, but could you kindly step out of the room for a brief moment so poor Amelia can become presentable? I fear she is not quite ready for such a candid and open form of dress yet~.”
I only hear the door quickly slide shut again, no verbal response at all from Jun Li as Akiko coos out small shushes and affirmations to me, trying to ease me out of my mopey disposition. “There, there my love~. We are all adults here and it was an honest mistake by all parties. I should have been paying more mind to our surroundings and Jun Li let her excitement get the better of her and came into the space without waiting for approval or acknowledgement.”
I give a long sigh as I lay against her amazing body, the chillness of her skin helping to offset my once again flaming hot red cheeks. “I know Akiko. I’m not mad at anyone or anything, I just… I wanted do things right with Jun Li and the others. Like how we did. Spend time together, talk and express our emotions and wants and stuff, and then take things naturally from there. It feels like I just skipped basically right to the end now with Jun Li, like I missed something I’ll never get back…”
Akiko tightens her embrace of me, laying a long, firm kiss against the cheek that’s exposed to the air before she says back lovingly, “You are simply the best creature I have ever had the fortune to meet, my love~. So sweet, and sincere, and thoughtful with nearly every step you take and word you speak~. I hear you well and understand how you feel, Amelia, and I am sorry that this happened. If you would like, I have a different perspective on the matter that I would gladly share with you if you wanted?”
I lean back and face Akiko directly, her calm and smiling face making the slight twinge of depression start to recede somewhat as I give her a small nod with my still present pouting lips. “Precious~. Well, while it is true that you may have exceeded what you consider normal pacing for courtship still, I would offer you this. If and when you decide to pursue Jun Li and the others, the moment you choose to bare yourself to them is what matters the most. That connection that you long for, that you need it seems, is what is important. Not the act of being naked in their presence, nor friendly kisses or embraces.
When you and Jun Li decide to reach the same relationship that we have, that is what you will remember most fondly. Not this unexpected and – for you – slightly embarrassing moment. I would honestly expect you to come back to this memory in jest, shaking your pretty head at how adorable, sweet, and objectively humorous the situation was for everyone~.” Akiko ends as she nuzzles her face against mine playfully. I giggle a bit, raising my hands up to just barely poke my fingertips into her long, silvery hair as I nuzzle her back, her words making me feel a lot better about the situation.
“Okay…” I admit after a few more face cuddles~, “I guess you’re right. It was just slightly mortifying and stuff, but it just means that when Miss J and I start down this road, I’ll have to make sure the real moment we want to get naked is even more sweet and awesome and perfect! Yeah!” I nod confidently, pumping my fist once in determination. Ironically, the system agrees!
Active Status Effect gained [Determination (Filled)]
Akiko stifles a laugh as she ruffles my hair, “I think you already phrased it best actually, my love. Just let the relationships you build with the girls come naturally, through the effort of time spent and words spoken. Do not try and place heavy meaning and the weight of perfection on a goal that does not need it.”
Shit. I forget sometimes that on top of Akiko being beyond the definition of sexy and alluring, she is also a wise and long-lived sage. I can’t help but to just agree with her, even making the determination effect depopulate which irks me, but it makes sense. Just putting extra pressure on myself or the situation is bound to only make things worse, especially with how I go about things…
Akiko gives me one more kiss on the lips before she stands up and places me on the ground, letting me scamper off to rapidly go put some clothes on since Jun Li is still outside the door waiting. Listening to this whole conversation. Damn it...
I opt for the blouse and rougher pants this time – along with a fresh pair of panties and bra of course – and am again pleasantly surprised at the craftsmanship and make of it all. For not having Qi based tailors, these guys do pretty dang well! I run to the bathroom one more time to brush my slightly errant hair after Akiko decided to play with it again, hearing the door slide open while I’m away.
“Thank you for waiting, my sweet girl~. Amelia is finishing getting ready but you can come in now and give your report if you like.” The matronly voice of Akiko says into the room.
Again, no response back from Jun Li, but I do hear two pairs of foot falls echo out into the space, so I know she’s at least in the room now. With a slight sigh, I set the brush from the bathroom kit down and walk back out of the door and start to make my way over to where both of them are sitting at the table. I give Jun Li a slightly awkward wave and “H-Hey Miss J.” as a greeting before I sit down, both her and my face starting to burn again in mutual embarrassment.
“H-hello, Miss Amelia. I apologize for earlier, I did not hear any other sounds or commotion from your room aside from you and the Madam simply talking, so I had assumed you both had… reached your fill of each other for the moment. I should have waited to enter, I know how reserved you still wished to be with us and I feel terrible that I unwittingly crossed that line with you.” She replies, hanging her precious head down in dismay with her ears lying flat and her three obsidian tails lying sadly on the floor.
Ugh!! It’s too much!! I stand up and dart across the table to the despondent fox woman, giving her a big hug that makes me force her face against my pillowy chest as I frantically respond, “No, no! It’s okay, really! It was an accident, but you’re very sweet for apologizing for it. I forgive you, okay? No more sad Jun Li?” I ask as I lean back and give her a few head pats, stroking the edges of her vulpine ears a couple times just to make sure she’s back to her normal and cute self~. Hearing her start purring with her eyes squinted in delight, I can’t help but feel a well of warmth radiate out from my core as I watch her adorably rub her head into the hand that’s petting her.
Yeah… Akiko’s right. We’re all living together, so I’m sure stuff like that is going to happen in the future. But this? This is what really matters to me. “You know…” I start to say conspiratorially to the in rapture kitsune, “If you are still feeling down about it after we break away here, how about you be the first one I spend the off days with? We haven’t gotten to spend time together since I first got here and… Well, I miss you…”
I begin to blush at the intimate admission, my heartbeat quickening a bit as I hastily add on while waving my hands in front of me, “O-of course, if you’re busy or something, then that’s fine too! Just wanted to see, I mean, I wanted to offer it to you! Wait no, that makes it sound like I’m an egomaniac… I just wa-“
I’m cut off from my rambling spiral by a crushing hug that sees me now buried in a warm and soft mountain of comfiness~. I don’t even struggle as I return the hug, hearing everyone in the room give a few rounds of chuckles before Jun Li releases me and answers, “I would be delighted, my dear~. I eagerly look forward to spending more time with you.”
I just give her a goofy grin and a nod in reply, squeezing her tight one more time before I turn around and plop in her lap, which finally gives me the opportunity to see the shit eating grins of both Akiko and Ios, who finally has put on some clothes. I just shrug to both of their knowing smiles, leaning over and wrapping my arms around Jun Li as I stick my tongue out at the pair of troublemakers.
“Simply adorable, Aims~. Good afternoon to you, Jun Li, I gather you have the last piece of the puzzle for Aim’s tribulation ready?” Ios says after returning my childish taunt to her. Jun Li giggles at our antics, her bubbling laugh that I haven’t heard for a few days sending pleasant waves across my spine before she replies, “Indeed, spirit Ios, thank you~. I have completed the [Heavenly Spiritual Preparation Pill (Peak Heaven Rank)]. This pill will reinforce the pathways and connections that Miss Amelia has already created, preparing them to mold and branch out to start establishing her meridians with much greater efficiency once the tribulation has been overcome.” She holds out her hand as a perfectly round, pink, candy like pill that is the norm around here manifests out of her ring, rolling slightly on her palm before she gently holds my hand and places it in mine.
She turns to look at me before she continues, “Take this pill when you are nearly ready to begin to breakthrough to the 2nd Rank. It will harness some of the latent energy released from defeated tribulation bolts to fuel and spur on your development without you needing to actively focus on doing so yourself. Hopefully, this will free some of your attention to the tribulation itself, going by how particularly dangerous your upcoming challenge will surely be. I will be waiting on the side, wishing you nothing but success and triumph~.”
She leans down to give me a full arm and tail hug, wiggling me lightly in my seated position on her lap a few times before she picks me up and sets me to the side. “As much as it pains me, I must go and ensure the others are prepared and waiting at the Qi gathering room. Gerra and Samantha spent the majority of the night and this morning in quite the tangle of limbs~. I will see you all soon, and sorry again for intruding so abruptly.”
I try my best not to pout at the retreating form of Jun Li, her wide hips swaying unintentionally as she walks out of the door and closes it behind her. “Man… I liked sitting on her lap…” I whine out, crestfallen and disheartened. I feel a fuzzy snake come up to wrap around my torso, only giving me a moment to react before I’m jerked upward and into the waiting lap of Akiko, her sultry voice lowering down to my ear as she says, “It seems I have caught the rabbit yet again~.”
I shiver as I lean into her a bit, still amazed at how quickly she can just flip my switch like that. “Come on you two,” chides Ios from across the table, “now that Jun Li has worked so hard and given us this pill, we need to get our heads on straight. So, Aims, we can buy the body and soul version of what that sexy fox lady just gave you. The body one is 500 points, but well worth it in my opinion. It’s called a [Heavenly Body Hardening Pill (Peak Heaven Rank)], and it gives you a jumpstart to feeding Qi to your muscles, skin, and bones. Like Jun Li’s version, it also automatically feeds off the Heavenly Qi you’ll be getting to start the process, and it also shores up your foundation and dantian at the same time.”
“Okay, seems nice and straightforward enough.” I say back as I begin petting one of Akiko’s tails absentmindedly, not noticing the look of utter bliss that becomes plastered on the kitsune’s face.
Ios smirks a bit, making me raise an eyebrow to her which she waves off as she keeps going with her explanations of the pills, “Yep~! Body cultivation is great for that, always very straight to the point and no nonsense. Unless you get some wild and niche techniques or cultivation manuals, I guess. Anywho~! The one for your soul is going to be a bit special, and we are going to have to use the ‘buying it and placing it directly into your soul’ method again.”
I look back to her in shock, knowing that last time we did that it was because we were getting my Transcendent ranked manuals. “What? Why? I can’t use [4 Leaf Clover] again for another… like 14 days? That’s what the skill says, at least.”
Ios nods as she answers back, “Right, but we can always just buy that level of item too. It’s expensive, and I wouldn’t honestly recommend it for the body or spiritual pills, but your soul is just too strong honey. If we bought a Peak Heaven ranked one for you, it wouldn’t do jack shit. You’d need a quasi-Transcendent ranked pill or above to see any meaningful benefit, otherwise it’s just wasted Qi and impurities in your system. Oh, and get ready for that, by the way. You were still pretty new to cultivating, and the Qi here is fairly pure, so you didn’t really have any of that icky stuff push out of your pores. But you likely will this time.”
Alright, one thing at a time please!! “Just… can we just focus on the soul pill thing for a second? What are you wanting to get?” I say out in exasperation.
Ios giggles faintly as she pulls up the item’s description for Akiko and I to read:
[Transcendent Vessel of Expanding Soul (Peak Transcendent Rank)]. Cost: 10,000 Shop Points.
[Transcendent Vessel of Expanding Soul (Peak Transcendent Rank)]: This pill was crafted by beings near to the highest realm of understanding, forged in cauldrons of pure Qi and bathed in the energy of boundless souls. When ingested, the recipient becomes incredibly attuned with their soul, easily sculpting it and strengthening it to its purest form with ease. This effect greatly aides any level of cultivation, from mortal to Immortal. The sooner it is ingested, the more the benefits will compound.
That’s… vague… “Uh… I mean, I can tell it’s probably overpowered as hell given the points required, but I’m kind of confused on what exactly it’s supposed to do? Do you know Akiko?” I ask out shyly toward her, but she also has a perplexed expression like me, so I guess that’s the answer to that.
We turn back to Ios who dismisses the text as she says, “Right, not very helpful on first glance, I guess. Well, the long and short of it is that this pill will essentially give you perfect control over your soul in regard to the things you need to do to advance through the Realms of soul cultivation. You still will need to comprehend what you need to do, but once you know it will be like breathing for you. No bottlenecks, no imperfect creations or adaptations that might be made as you advance, just perfect, harmonious synchronization with you and your soul.”
Whoa… “Okay that’s a much better sales pitch than the system gave, but doesn’t that kind of… defeat the purpose? I thought once you comprehended something, it just came naturally to you?” I reply, still a bit confused on this whole matter.
Akiko answers back this time, her hand coming up to pat my head gently as she says, “That is not quite correct, my love. While yes, comprehending the steps and actions that need to be taken is the cornerstone of any cultivator, the truth of the matter can become a bit muddled in the how’s and why’s of it. For instance, you know that for the 2nd Realms in spiritual cultivation, you must create and build out a network of meridians, yes?” I nod affirmatively as she continues, “Good girl~. Well, how does one do that? What placement of those meridians is correct? Did you create a network that will ensure ease of growth later in your journey, as more and more facets become involved? Things like these are integral to learn, as knowing the difference and how your system works for you distinguishes people between those fools who challenged me at the Sect Hall, and people like myself. A weak network, foundation, or subpar placements of meridians severely hampers your growth later in life, often to disastrous consequence.”
I just follow along, most of what she’s saying making sense on the surface. “Alright, that all makes sense so far. So, this pill would… what? Make sure that any of those subpar follies don’t happen, regardless of what I do? Again, doesn’t that just defeat the entire point of actually comprehending something? How am I supposed to know what does or doesn’t work the best way if I don’t fail every so often?”
Ios sighs a bit as she moves to sit down next to us, her tone getting a bit more serious than usual. “Amelia. While I absolutely adore you for always trying to do things ‘the right way’ in your mind, we can’t fuck around with your soul. It NEEDS to be perfect, every single time. Every single thing you do when you advance, needs to be spotless, first try. You are not just the reincarnation of a deity, but you’re also carrying both of our sisters as well. Sisters, who I remind you, are also tied to your soul, same as I am. The weight of all those entities on you is only going to become heavier as you grow and become more in tune with your soul. One wrong move, and you could seriously hurt not just us, but yourself as well. Badly.
And I won’t let that happen, not when the solution is just spending some points. This pill isn’t a shortcut. You will need to fully understand what everything means, comprehend what being a soul cultivator is, in every sense of the word. This pill just makes the transition from knowledge to action easier, without the worry of something going wrong in the process. I love you, Amelia, but I’m putting my foot down on this one. You need to use this pill.” I’ve already shrunken back against Akiko at Ios’ sudden change in demeanor, her words sharp and crisp, offering no room for disagreement on the matter.
I… I mean, it makes sense. Behind this sudden ferocity, there is nothing but worry and concern in her eyes. Not just for me, but for Sandra and Ilya as well. And herself too of course, but even I know where she falls on that list of priorities for herself. I sigh, looking up to Akiko to see if she has anything else to add.
She looks back to me, also seemingly a little shocked at the intensity that Ios pulled out of nowhere, but smiling nonetheless. “Spirit Ios is your closest friend and advisor, Amelia. She loves you dearly and wants nothing but the best for you and your sister both. For each of you to succeed and overcome the trials placed before you with dignity and grace. I trust her as well, and if she deems this item to be of crucial importance to your progression with soul cultivation, then you should too.” She leans down to give me a soft, wet kiss on the lips, her hands coming up to cup my face before she leans back and rests my head against her bountiful bosom.
Well shit, that’s just not fair! “*Sigh* Alright, alright, I get it, I was being a goody two shoes! It’s just… It’s hard not to have some imposter syndrome with all of this still. Especially after the ranged quests just flew by, and now I can just bitch smack a 3rd Rank of any Realm into the dirt. Hell, probably even 4th Ranked people! After two weeks!” I sigh again, turning back to Ios as I keep on, “I’m sorry, honey. I wasn’t trying to say I didn’t trust you or something. I just want to try and do this as above board as I can still, to make it feel like I’m the one who’s advancing and learning and growing, not the system forcing me to. Even if it is nice to be strong, devastatingly so~, it rings hollow if I feel like I cheated to get it.”
Ios returns to her usual gentle face, emerald eyes sparkling with adoration and care in equal measure as she replies, “I know, sweetheart. And again, I love that about you and I know how important feeling like that is for you. Trust me, I want you to do all of that and more, to really feel like the bad ass bitch I know you’re going to be, mind, body, and soul~. But this time, for everyone’s sake, the better option is to play the cards you have and not worry about the other players at the table, okay?”
Finally wearing down the last bit of resistance with her beautiful and charming words, I just nod against Akiko’s skin making Ios beam in a bright smile as she says, “Thank you, Amelia. I promise to show you my gratitude for trusting in me after you recover from today~. Now then, let’s get you psyched up and head to the chamber. You got some lightning to fight~.”
I gulp a bit nervously at the promise, firmly knowing that the real fight might not be against this pissy Heavens, but surviving the pent-up attentions of Ios… With a final shake of my head, Akiko and I stand up as I move over to change into the battle dress and summon my spear. Garment donned and weapon acquired, I breathe out a breath filled with nervous energy as I turn around to the two women, summoning as much conviction as I can as I say, “Alright. Let’s do this.”
